(June 18) Corbett prepared to miss budget deadline to get his initiatives done

HARRISBURG – Gov. Corbett said Tuesday that he was willing to let the state’s June 30 budget deadline pass if legislators don’t act on his priority initiatives.

After calling reporters to a news conference, Corbett said he won’t approve any plans to use taxes to close a $1.4 billion budget gap without first reining in the skyrocketing cost of public employee pensions, and privatizing the sale of wine and spirits.

“We need to get this done right rather than quickly,” he said. “I am willing to be here. . . . No bluster. No threats. These are the facts.”

It was a notable departure from Corbett’s insistence over the last three years to get budgets passed on time, unlike his Democratic predecessor, Ed Rendell. And though the state does not mandate a budget by July 1, any protracted delay in passing a spending plan could affect state services or halt paychecks to public employees.

It also demonstrated how high the stakes are for Corbett this year – an election year – to push through his agenda. The governor faces anemic public-approval ratings, not to mention a well-funded Democratic opponent in Tom Wolf. Leaving Harrisburg this summer with policy wins could help his reelection campaign.